The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-02-09
WHY He was Rejected.

WASHINGTON, Feb. THE document pre-.
pared by Senator Ingalls, and offered In the
shape of a resolution regarding the rejection
by the Senate of Matthews, colored, to be
Recorder of Deeds of the District of Co.
lumbia, was to-day adopted by the Senate
26 to is, party vote, and will be sent to
the President with the rejection. The docu-
ment is in part as follows
The President attempts to justify the re-
nomination of Matthews by stating:
l. That the fitness of the nominee has
been dem nstrated.
,. That the previous opposition to his ap-
pointment among the citizens of the Dis
tTict has largely subsided.
8. That he desires in this way to tender
Just recognition and good faith toward our
colored citizens.
1t is sufficient answer to the first two rea-
sons alleged to say that neither could have
been applicable when Matthews was ap-
pointed in August, Immediately after the
adjournment of the Senate. for at that time
his fitness had not been demonstrated, nor
had there been any interval for local opposi-
ton TO subside. Until suggested by the
President, the Senate was not aware that the
question of lust recognition or good faith
to our cOlored fellow citizens" was involved
in the question; and it has never before
been urged that persons nomination for
an office should be confirmed or rejected be-
cause he was black or white. This classi f.
cation has been abolished by the suppression
of the rebellion and by the amendments Of the
Constitution, and is no longer properly TO be
recognized in dealing with public affairs.
The Senate, however, in view of the message
of the President can not forbear to apprise
him, since he has raised the race issue, that
Frederick Douglass was, it is understood, re-
quested to resign the Office of Recorder of
Deed in the District of Columbia in order
that James G. Matthews might be appointed
to the place. Without doubt Frederick
Douglass is the most distinguished represent
ative of the colored race, not in this country
would have been rendered TO our
colored fellow citizens by the re.
tention of Frederick Douglass rather
than by his enforced retirement in
order to reward an unknown and and OBJ
scure partisan who had never been a slave,
and therefore represented the enfranchised
race only by the accident of color. The de-
votion OF the President to the political and
civil advancement of the colored race might
have been equally attested, and good faith
might have been as strongly evinced by the
T7tfntion of Douglass in the Office, whose
duties he was discharging to the satisfaction
of the people, unless it is to be understood
that lust recognition" is to be rendered
only to those members of that race who are
supposed to entertain particular political
opinions. In such case the issue Of race
disappears aud the test is politics.
The Senate has no official information,
other than that contained in the message of
the President, whether Matthews is white or
black. He is admitted to be citizen of
New York. The Office to which he is nomi-
mated is strictly local. The compensation
for the performance of its duties is not paid
by the government, but mainly by citizens
Of the District of Columbia having papers to
be recorded therein. His confirmation is
opposed with substantial unanimity by the
citizens OF the district, without regard to
color, politics or occupation.